Shock-absorber.



R. R. WALKER.

SHOCK ABSORBER.

APB LIOATION FILED 11011.14. 1913.

1,106,014. Patentedlug. 4, 1914.

INVENTEIR ATTORNEY W'lTNESEES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAYMOND R. WALKER, OF FOLLANSBEE, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DAVID WALKER, OF FOLLANSBEE, WEST VIRGINIA.

SHOCK-ABSORBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

Application filed November 24, 1913. Serial No. 802,654.

To all wllmn it may concern Be it known that I, RAYMOND R. \Vamunn, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Follansbee, county of Brooke, and State of Vest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Shook-Absorbers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements 1n shock absorbers, and more particularly to a shock absorber for automobiles and similar rehicles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable and and comparatively inexpensive device, occupying but small space, which is adapted to etlectually dissipate or minimize the shocks and jars incident to road travel, and thus pre vent such shocks from being connnunicatcd to the body of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned wherein is involved both the principle of a pneumatic cushion and that of a vacuum dashpot.

'ith these and other objects in view, the invcntion resides in the features of constriuftion. arrangement of parts and combination of elements which will hereinafter be fully described. reference being had to the accompanying drawings. forming a part of this specifiration. in whit-h Figure 1 is a side elevation of the inventionz Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-l Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of frame c nnection.

ci'crring to said drawings. in which lilac designating characters distinmiish like parts throughout the several views 1 indicates a hollow cylinder. open at its upper end. which preferably has t'crmed thereon an integral base. as 2, adapted for seating upon a vehicle axle 3, being rigidly connected to the latter by means ct' bolts 4 directed through oppositely disposed lugs 2 and the lugs 5 of a clamping mcn'iber 5. ertically movable within said cylinder 1 and operating through the open end of the latter is a plunger (3 to the upper end of which is rigidly attached, or which has formed integral therewith, an upright stem 7 which is terminated by a knob c! ball 8 said ball constituting one member of a ball-and-soclwt joint, the other member of which is constituted by a stem 9 adapted for attachment to the vehicle body, or to the vehicle frame, and having a socket 10 in its lower end. An inlet valve 11, preferably of the ball-check type is provided in the lower end of the cylinder 1 through which air is admitted to constitute a cushion which receives the i|npact of the plunger produced by violent shocks due to contact of the vehicle wheels with uneven road surfaces. Also provided in the lower end of said cylinder is an airoutlet, or exhaust, valve 12, also of a ballcheek type, as shown.

The plunger (3 is made hollow and has its lower end open, while its upper end is cursed against the admission of air, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. Received within the hollow chamber 1;, of said plunger is a stem or plunger 14 which rises vertically from the base of the cylinder, said stem having a concentric disposition within sa d cylinder. As is apparent, when the plunger (3 moves downward within the cylinder 1, the stem 14 displaces the air in the chamber 13. said air exhausting through an exhaust valve 15 of ballchecl type provided in the upper end of the plunger (3. \Vhen said plunger ti movcs upward. a partia vacuum is produced in the chamber 13. Thus, rapid rebounds which would otherwise subject the vehicle body to violent shocks are effectually prevented.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 4, the stem 51 is received within the sleeve-portion 16 ot' a member 17 which is adapted for attachment to the vehicle body or to the vehicle frame. and a se crew 18 is directed through said slccveportnn into impinging cngagcmcnt with said stein for holding the latter in fixed position. 'ith sucl. construction. the device may be fitted to vehicles of ditl'crent sizes and types, wherein the distance from the axle to the body or to a suitable portion of the frame varies to a. considerable extent. The exhaust check-valve 12. when used, is connected by a line of tubing 19 to a suitable cylinder or container, as 20. for ontaining air under pressure to be utilized for operating motor-starting mechanism. t'or inflating tires. etc. As is obvious, the more or less continual inovciucnt of the plunger 4' within the cylinder 1 will suftice to maintain a considerable pressure of air within the container .20. Vhen the c ntainer is not used and it is desired to discharge the air displaced by the plunger 6 in cylinder 1 directly to the atmosphere, a popvalve 21 of a common type may be employed instead of the check-valve 12.

From the foregoing it will be manifest that, when irregularities in the roadway are encountered, the axle and body of the Vehicle will be prevented from approaching each other violently, the plunger (3 acting against a yielding cushion of air within the cylinder 1, said air being permitted to ex haust from said cylinder either through check-valve 12. or a popwalve .21, according as it is desired to direct air to a container or discharge the same to the atmosphere. It will also be apparent that violent rebounds of the axl and body with respect to each other is prevented by the provision of the chamber 18 in the plunger (3 and the stem or plunger 14 whereby a vacuum, or partial vacuum is formed which resists rapid movement of said parts in opposite directions, said )lunger (3 and plunger 14 constituting in e 'ect the parts of a vacuum dashpot. The ball-andsocket joint permits of a universal lateral movement, within a limited range, of the vehicle body with respect to the plunger 6.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A shock absorber comprising a cylinder having its lower end a dapted. for mount ing upon a vehicle axle and having an open upper end, means admitting air to and exhausting air from said cylinder, a plunger operating within said cylinder, said plunger being hollow and having its lower end open, an exhaust check-valve in the upper end of said plunger, a stem concentrically disposed within and in fixed relation to said cylinder and operating within the hollow of said,

plunger whereby a partial vacuum is formed upon withdrawal movement of said stem. and means for connecting said plunger to a vehicle body.

2. A shock absorber comprising a cylin der having its lower end adapted for mounting upon a vehicle axle and having an open upper end, means admitting air to and exhausting air from said cylinder, a plunger operating within said cylinder, said plunger being hollow and having its lower end open. an exhaust check-valve in the upper end of said plunger, a stem concentrically disposed within and having fixed relation to said cylinder and operating within the hollow of said plunger whereby a partial vacuum is formed upon Withdrawal movement of said stem, and means for connecting said plunger to a. vehicle body, said means permitting lateral movement of the body with respect to said plunger.

A shock absorber comprising a cylinder having its lower end adapted for mount ing upon a vehicle axle and having an open upper end, means admitting air to and exhausting air from said cylinder, a plunger operating within said cylinder, said plunger being hollow and having its lower end open, an exhaust check-valve in the upper end of said plunger, a stem concentrically disposed within and having fixed relation to said cylinder and operating within the hollow of said plunger whereby a partial vacuum is formed upon withdrawal movement of said stem, and means for connecting said plunger to a vehicle body, a member adapted for mounting on a vehicle body, and a ball-andsocltet connection betweensaid plunger and said member.

4. A shock absorber comprising a cylinder having its lower end adapted for mounting upon a vehicle axle and having an open upper end, means admitting air to and exhausting air from said cylinder, a plunger operating within said cylinder, said plunger being hollow and having its lower end open, an exhaust check valve in the upper end of said plunger, a stem formed integral with and extending vertically from the base of said cylinder. said stein being concentrically disposed within said cylinder and operating within the hollow of said plunger whereby a partial vacuum is formed upon withdrawal movement of said stem, and means for connecting said plunger to a vehicle body.

A shock absorber comprising a cylin der having its lower end adapted for mount ing upon a vehicle axle and having an open upper end, air inlet and exhaust check-valves in the lower end of said cylinder, an upright stationary stem disposed concentrically with in said cylinder, a hollow cylindrical pluir ger adapted for having its upper end flexibly connected to a vehicle body, and an exhaust check-valve in the upper end of said plunger, said plunger operating snugly between said stem and the cylinder wall and cooperating with said stem for producing a partial vacuum within said plunger upon withdrawal movement of the latter.

in testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RAYMOND R. \VALKER.

Witnesses H. E. DUNLAP, W. F. KEEFER. 

